Fiona Bruce has sought to explain why she was one of more than 300 Conservative MPs who voted to block plans to extend free school meals for the most vulnerable children in society in the House of Commons.

Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford has been putting pressure on the Government to support the issue following his own experience as a child.

Labour's Opposition Day motion to extend free school meals during the holidays failed.

The motion drew 261 votes in favour, with 322 against in the House of Commons chamber last week.

Mrs Bruce was one of the MPs who voted against, which has drawn criticism that resulted in a protest being held outside her office.

In response to questions from Nub News, Mrs Bruce said: "It goes without saying that no child should go hungry.

"During this pandemic, billions of pounds have been provided by Government to protect families and livelihoods, including millions to local councils to support families in need, in the most appropriate and targeted way, including, if need be, by supplying food – and that is right.

"As this tragic pandemic evolves the Government is constantly reviewing the support needed by families and Ministers will have, I am sure, as I have, listened carefully to concerns expressed this week."

However, she did argue that as well as providing immediate financial help to families, the Government must "provide much more structured sustainable support for families in difficulty".

The MP added: "Like rolling out across the country the Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF), the pilot of which I welcomed in the House of Commons over a year ago.

"This has provided Government funding for 50,000 disadvantaged children in 17 Local Authorities, for not just healthy food but also wraparound support to include enriching activities, an opportunity to catch up educationally and engaging the whole family, providing or linking them up with wider help as needed, including with local community groups on issues such as debt counselling, nutritional advice or health and wellbeing concerns."

This programme, she says, would help a million children and their families if scaled up.

Mrs Bruce also called on the Government to implement her long-suggested 'Family Hub' policy proposal as part of the solution to child food poverty

In her response, the MP referenced a speech in the House of Commons, in which she said: "We need long term transformational strategy and effective Government co-ordination to shift the dial for so many thousands of children impacted by problems in families.

"The poorest suffer most…We need a strategic approach, not just short-term tactical solutions, we need preventative, whole family approaches. Families need help to halt the intergenerational transmission of problems.

"We need a well-functioning, early help system in which health, education, family support, relationship support, and other support for families are integrated and seamless so that no child or family falls through the cracks.

"At the heart of that system should be somewhere that people can connect with to get the help they need. That should be the Family Hub."

Mrs Bruce says her proposal can help create a long-term solution to tackling food poverty as well as during the coronavirus pandemic.